John August

Producers

Back to 100

Episode - 198

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Books, Producers, Scriptnotes, So-Called Experts, Story and Plot, Transcribed

This week, we time-travel back to our first centennial, a live show in Hollywood with special guests Aline Brosh McKenna and Rawson Thurber. We discuss the rise of the “writer-plus,” the importance of early mentors, and the emails that outline the very origin of Scriptnotes.

Through the past 100 episodes, a lot has changed, so John provides updates on some topics, including how the Golden Ticket winner presaged the later full script challenge. So even if you listened to this episode 97 weeks ago, you’ll find something new.

Links:

* [Scriptnotes, the 100th Episode](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-100th-episode)
* The Academy [Nicholl Fellowships](http://www.oscars.org/awards/nicholl/) in Screenwriting
* [Scriptnotes, 190: This Is Working](http://johnaugust.com/2015/this-is-working)
* [Aline Brosh McKenna](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0112459/) on IMDb
* [Rawson Thurber](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1098493/) on IMDb
* Slate’s article on [Save the Cat!](http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2013/07/hollywood_and_blake_snyder_s_screenwriting_book_save_the_cat.single.html) (and Stuart’s [review of the series](http://johnaugust.com/2012/in-which-stuart-reads-the-save-the-cat-books-and-tells-you-what-he-thought))
* [Makers: Women Who Make America](http://www.pbs.org/makers/home/) on PBS
* [Scriptnotes](http://johnaugust.com/scriptnotes): A podcast about screenwriting and things that are interesting to screenwriters
* The classic [Pilot G2](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GAOTSW/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) and the brand new erasable [Pilot Frixion](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009QYH644/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) on Amazon
* [Stuart](https://twitter.com/stuartfriedel), [Ryan](https://twitter.com/ryannelson) and [Nima](https://twitter.com/nyousefi) (and [Matthew](https://twitter.com/machelli))
* [One Hit Kill](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/913409803/one-hit-kill) is on Kickstarter now
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Scriptnotes editor Matthew Chilelli ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_198.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_198.mp3).

**UPDATE 5-19-15:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-198-back-to-100-transcript).

How do bad movies get made?

Film Industry, Producers, Rights and Copyright, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

Craig and John tackle a single topic: bad movies and how they happen. Having experienced the process first-hand, they report on how bad ideas make it to the screen, and how good ideas go wrong. There’s no single answer, but a range of patterns that end in terrible movies.

In follow-up, we talk about still-forming plans for the 200th episode, new USB drives, and favorite episodes.

John’s game One Hit Kill launches on Kickstarter this week. Check it out.

And if you work for Bethesda, Craig really wants you to make Fallout 4.

Links:

* [Aspartame](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame) on Wikipedia
* [CW Picks Up ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ As Hourlong Series](http://deadline.com/2015/05/crazy-ex-girlfriend-dc-legends-of-tomorrow-cordon-cw-series-1201422393/) on Deadline
* John’s Screencasts on [Entering a scene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRTbAOmL94Q), [Writing better action](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPHIb1RweeI), and [Writing better scene description](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4IXNOO_YkQ)
* [One Hit Kill](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/913409803/one-hit-kill?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=scriptnoteslink&utm_campaign=OHK-Kickstarter) launches today on Kickstarter
* [First Follower: Leadership Lessons from Dancing Guy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW8amMCVAJQ)
* [Rob Schneider Is A Carrot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uK2WMc9L8c)
* [Copyright, Exceptions, and Fair Use: Crash Course Intellectual Property](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_9O8J9skL0)
* [Fallout 4 Rumor Puts Reveal at Bethesda’s E3 Conference](http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/05/07/fallout-4-rumor-puts-reveal-at-bethesdas-press-conference) on IGN
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Scriptnotes listener Rajesh Naroth ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_197.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_197.mp3).

**UPDATE 5-17-15:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-197-how-do-bad-movies-get-made-transcript).

The long and short of it

Film Industry, Follow Up, One Hit Kill, Producers, QandA, Scriptnotes, Television, Transcribed, WGA, Words on the page

John and Craig dig into the listener mailbag and take questions on TV producer credits, jealousy over other writers’ success, writing tight vs writing long and plenty of other follow up.

It’s a jam packed episode worthy of a long commute.

We also have information on the card game we playtested in LA a few weeks back. It’s called One Hit Kill, and you can see some of the artwork and play our mini-game at [onehitkillgame.com](http://www.onehitkillgame.com/) now.

Links:

* [Scriptnotes, 195: Writing for Hollywood without living there](http://johnaugust.com/2015/writing-for-hollywood-without-living-there)
* [Email us](mailto:ask@johnaugust.com) or [leave us a Facebook comment](https://www.facebook.com/scriptnotes) and let us know your favorite episodes
* [John’s 2004 blog post on producer credits](http://johnaugust.com/2004/producer-credits-and-what-they-mean) and [screenwriting.io on the television writer/producer pecking order](http://screenwriting.io/what-is-the-television-writerproducer-pecking-order/)
* [Superman vs. Batman? DC’s Real Battle Is How to Create Its Superhero Universe](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/superman-batman-dcs-real-battle-792190) by Kim Masters
* [See artwork from our new game, One Hit Kill, and play our mini-game now](http://www.onehitkillgame.com/)
* [Rocketbook: Cloud-Integrated Microwavable Notebook](https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/rocketbook-cloud-integrated-microwavable-notebook) on Indiegogo
* [Scriptnotes, the 100th Episode](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-100th-episode)
* [All our past One Cool Things](http://johnaugust.com/onecoolthings)
* [The MacBook’s new trackpad will change the way you click](http://www.macworld.com/article/2895758/the-macbooks-new-trackpad-will-change-the-way-you-click.html) on Macworld
* [Scriptnotes, Bonus: The Dirty Show with Rebel Wilson and Dan Savage](http://scriptnotes.net/the-dirty-show-with-rebel-wilson-and-dan-savage)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Scriptnotes editor Matthew Chilelli ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_196.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_196.mp3).

**UPDATE 5-7-15:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-196-the-long-and-short-of-it-transcript).

Development Emergencies

Follow Up, Producers, Story and Plot, Writer Emergency

[Vineet Dewan](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0223528/), who was nice enough to co-star in the Kickstarter video for Writer Emergency Pack, decided to film his own version pitched at [development executives](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z4judce0H0):

So, yeah. Sigh. I can imagine Writer Emergency Pack being used this way, as a shortcut to actual notes about an actual script. But these wouldn’t be the worst notes I’ve gotten in a meeting. ((The worst note I got was, “She should be a flight attendant. Women aren’t airline pilots. It’s unrealistic.” This was from a female producer.))

If pulling a card from a deck fosters a good discussion about the script, at least it’s about the story and not useless minutiae.

Meanwhile, the real Writer Emergency Pack is [roaring ahead on Kickstarter](http://kck.st/1obEMOQ). With 10 days to go, it’s fully funded, with 2,400 backers. Huge thanks to everyone who’s joined us.